I. Progress report (9 JULY 2013 ):
Activities undertaken:
1.Launching capacity building through training
2. Launching demonstration of activities: Installation of briquetting facility

Results of activities:
1. Increased capacity of targeted population witnessed by the official establishment of a 15-member project committee coordinating with the municipality confirming the importance of projects and its contribution to address environmental problem and by active participation in design the planned solar and biomass system and prepare the premises of 25 members
2. Completion of premise preparation by about 80 %

Project Visibility and Communication by other organizations/individuals:
The project was made more visible and understood through project network meeting and among members of Phuket Provincial Community Energy Network.

Emerging problems and issues:
1. Rain slowed down construction progress but the project sped up construction during rain-free days.

2. Original design of charcoal producing kiln was not sound enough. So, project committee launched meetings to modify the design to ensure a more sturdy model
3. Illumination inside the building was not enough . Project leaders managed to modify the building based on a design from Phuket Provincial Energy Office

Project experience and lessons learnt :
The project learnt a lot about participatory process. In this regards, simple and easy approach was adopted to make targeted population and wider public easy to understand for more participation . However, with uncompleted facilities , some non-project members was not convinced thus an obstruction in project outreach at current stage.
Project expense:
The project reported the expense of THB: 323,595 out of the first disbursement of THB: 421,674.11.

II. Project Site Visit (November 14, 2013):
Findings and Observation:
At a premises in Baan Khai, a suburban community in Phuket, which community members permitted to be used for project activities, the visiting team interacted with five project leaders, and four staff members including the CEO of Thepkasattri Tambol Municipality. In term of progress, the visiting team witnessed completed construction of buildings and installation of briquetting-producing equipment. Those witnessed were a small building to accommodate sets of briquetting equipment, a solar dryer compartment, and a solar panel to provide lighting and electricity to drive sets ventilators as required in briquetting process. The only incomplete activity was the fabrication of high-efficiency charcoal producing kiln, but currently under modification of Phuket Provincial Energy Office.

The show-and-tell of project leaders gave a sense of their increased capacity on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Since project location was situated in a suburban areas, smoke from charcoal producing process was definitely a community issue. To address this, community planned to install an absorptive system where smoke from charcoal burning would be induced and submerged into water, instead of letting it fly out freely into the atmosphere.

In Phuket, briquettes for cooking had been on increasing demand, especially from tourist sector. Project leaders related that during high season, the group was unable to meet the high demand because the old set of equipment supplied by the Phuket Provincial Energy Office required much manual energy from project members. Under the new systems by GEF SGP, it was estimated that much more quantity of briquette would be produced by the group , with some offset of CO2 emission through an efficient use of energy and reducing LPG consumption through using briquettes.

In essence, the project had fared satisfactorily. It was even more convincing after learning that one project leader had been a member of Phuket Provincial Energy Volunteer Group and bestowed with the first prize award from Phuket Provincial Energy Office. Moreover, the group had been under supports, both technically and institutionally from Thepkasattri Tambol Municipality.

Note: Thepkasattri Tambol Municipality, through the mayor, had generously give THB: 2,000 for the lunch meeting during this monitoring visit.

III. Completion report (August 22, 2014 ):
Date of Participatory Evaluation( August 1 , 2014 ):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 25
Men: 55
Children: 20

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 18
Men: 2
Children:30

Expense:
Amount received from SGP (2 disbursements): THB: 765,949.62
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 889,300
Balance: THB: (-123,350.38 )
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 2,752.44
Amount Received from others: THB: 9,000 (in cash)
THB: 767,800 (in kind)
Activities undertaken:

2. Launching demonstration of activities: Installation of briquetting facility
3. Launching dissemination of project results
4. Launching participatory evaluation

Results and indicators:
1.Increased capacity and awareness of target population, especially 15 committee members , witnessed by ability to put into articulate & put into practice what being learnt
2. Estimated reduction of 130 kg/day-the amount being processed into energy
3. Estimated reduction of CO2 emission for LPG at 10.65 tons/year from 20 participating families
4. Established fund for maintenance of the facilities
5. Project activities being known among wider audiences in Phuket Province ? 52 community members from 4 groups being interested in the transaction of the group

Project Communication:
In addition to the previous communication, there were staff members from 5 agencies/organizations visit the project to share experience.

Problems and Issues:
1. Procurement of appropriate set of smoke suppressing equipment being addressed by Committee meetings to seek advices from relevant technical experts
2. Limited cooperation and supports from some unconvinced network members bding addressed by promoting wider communication on transparency of the project as necessary
3. Excessive demand of briquette entailing shutting down to maintain systems being addressed by upgrading some equipment to meet the demand
4. Unsettled time arrangement for production crews working in shift being addressed by participatory meetings so that all members of the crew mutually satisfied

Experience , Lessons Learnt :
The project prompted evinced reduced expense and increased income of targeted communities, let alone knowledge and experience gain on energy technology. Small entrepreneurs in the location were apt to be aware of energy conservation. Group members appeared to be proud to train youth groups and visitors. The group learnt a lot about collective approach in addressing emerging problems, coordination with stakeholders, and mutual understanding. All these would contribute to adding more to the capacity of the group.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
As the activities were main livelihood of targeted population, the project would continue and reach out to other communities through supports of Phuket Provincial Energy Office and Thepkasattri Tambol Municiplaity. As to any weak points in briquette production, the project would resort to the 4 M and KM principle to ensure continued activities.